Moore: Reforms can promote family unity, citizenship

By Tim Moore

Updated 4:00 pm, Saturday, September 21, 2013

Photo: SARAH BETH GLICKSTEEN, STR

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The Rev. David Uth, center top, gathers with congregation members at the First Baptist Church of Orlando, Fla. There is a shift among evangelical Christians toward supporting a path to citizenship for immigrants. less

The Rev. David Uth, center top, gathers with congregation members at the First Baptist Church of Orlando, Fla. There is a shift among evangelical Christians toward supporting a path to citizenship for ... more

Photo: SARAH BETH GLICKSTEEN, STR

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Photo: Barry Maguire

Moore: Reforms can promote family unity, citizenship

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The time to act on immigration reform is now. It's time to move forward to reform our broken immigration system and help heal the nation from the pain a flawed and cruel system of immigration has caused.

Reform is good for the economy, for law enforcement and for the moral fabric of our nation. We should approach it not as a problem but as an opportunity.

In the past month, tens of thousands of evangelicals around the country have become Prayer Partners in the Evangelical Immigration Table's Pray for Reform campaign, during which we are praying for Congress to come together and enact immigration reform. Since the spring, we have had scores of local prayer events and conversations. An evangelical radio ad campaign on immigration has reached every region of the country, with local pastors lending their voices to ads in 16 states.

With support from their congregations, America's evangelical leaders are meeting their moral obligation to address the needs and circumstances of immigrants in our communities and country. Throughout the Bible, God's heart for the immigrant is clear. The word for immigrant appears 92 times in the Old Testament alone, and the New Testament says in no uncertain terms that however we treat the stranger in our midst, it is as though we are treating Jesus himself that way. We support legislation that reflects our Christian values and builds the common good.

As people turn to Scripture for guidance on immigration, hearts and minds are changing. In a CBS News poll in late July, 75 percent of evangelicals support broad reform that includes the opportunity for aspiring Americans to earn citizenship. More broadly, American voters - including 79 percent of GOP primary voters, in one recent poll - want Congress to follow through on broad reform.

As Christians, we believe in the God-given human dignity of every person and family unity - and our immigration process needs to reflect these beliefs. As Christians with strong family values, we inherently understand that each of us is created in God's image, no matter where we were born, and that the unity of family is essential. Immigration reform can and must promote family unity and respect human dignity by charting a just and compassionate way forward for the millions of aspiring Americans living peacefully and productively in our midst.

Most evangelicals assume it is up to others to prove themselves neighbors to us. But Jesus makes it clear that each has a responsibility to be a neighbor - especially to those who are in need.

In Luke 10, we find the Good Samaritan. A stranger had come from Jerusalem and traveled down to Jericho. The stretch of road was beset with thieves and difficulty and great danger. The thieves had their way with the stranger; he lay hurt and wounded and in great need. Three persons came his way. Two were likely candidates to help, the priest and a Levite, one who assisted the priests in the work of the temple. However, they chose to avoid involving their lives with the stranger. Another came. He was an unlikely candidate to help. He was a Samaritan. He risked not only the thieves but also the hostility of other travelers. The unlikely one chose to help. He chose to be a neighbor and actually proved himself to be one. He met his neighbor's need in every way, lovingly and with sacrifice.

The truth is, each of us has a responsibility to be an answer and help our nation find a solution to this human tragedy.

Immigration reform should also include the opportunity for aspiring Americans to legalize and work toward eventual citizenship. Not amnesty, but accountability. If you pay a fine, pay taxes, pass a background check, study English and pledge allegiance to our country to stay here, that's not amnesty. We support the opportunity for aspiring Americans to be fully accountable to this country by earning legal status and eventual citizenship.

Compared with any other legislation, bipartisan immigration reform has unmatched momentum. The House of Representatives needs to catch up to American voters across the spectrum this fall and keep reform moving forward.

No matter how the House proceeds, proceed it must. We ask that our members of Congress work to ensure that reform include the core elements that reflect our values: the opportunity for immigrants in our midst to come out of the shadows and eventually earn citizenship, fair and efficient border security, family unity and new and orderly immigration pathways that support our economy and encourage legal immigration.

Jesus himself that way. We support legislation that reflects our Christian values and builds the common good.

As people turn to Scripture for guidance on immigration, hearts and minds are changing. In a CBS News poll in late July, 75 percent of evangelicals support broad reform that includes the opportunity for aspiring Americans to earn citizenship. More broadly, American voters - including 79 percent of GOP primary voters, in one recent poll - want Congress to follow through on broad reform.

As Christians, we believe in the God-given human dignity of every person and family unity - and our immigration process needs to reflect these beliefs. As Christians with strong family values, we inherently understand that each of us is created in God's image, no matter where we were born, and that the unity of family is essential. Immigration reform can and must promote family unity and respect human dignity by charting a just and compassionate way forward for the millions of aspiring Americans living peacefully and productively in our midst.

Most evangelicals assume it is up to others to prove themselves neighbors to us. But Jesus makes it clear that each has a responsibility to be a neighbor - especially to those who are in need.

In Luke 10, we find the Good Samaritan. A stranger had come from Jerusalem and traveled down to Jericho. The stretch of road was beset with thieves and difficulty and great danger. The thieves had their way with the stranger; he lay hurt and wounded and in great need. Three persons came his way. Two were likely candidates to help, the priest and a Levite, one who assisted the priests in the work of the temple. However, they chose to avoid involving their lives with the stranger. Another came. He was an unlikely candidate to help. He was a Samaritan. He risked not only the thieves but also the hostility of other travelers. The unlikely one chose to help. He chose to be a neighbor and actually proved himself to be one. He met his neighbor's need in every way, lovingly and with sacrifice.

The truth is, each of us has a responsibility to be an answer and help our nation find a solution to this human tragedy.

Immigration reform should also include the opportunity for aspiring Americans to legalize and work toward eventual citizenship. Not amnesty, but accountability. If you pay a fine, pay taxes, pass a background check, study English and pledge allegiance to our country to stay here, that's not amnesty. We support the opportunity for aspiring Americans to be fully accountable to this country by earning legal status and eventual citizenship.

Compared with any other legislation, bipartisan immigration reform has unmatched momentum. The House of Representatives needs to catch up to American voters across the spectrum this fall and keep reform moving forward.

No matter how the House proceeds, proceed it must. We ask that our members of Congress work to ensure that reform include the core elements that reflect our values: the opportunity for immigrants in our midst to come out of the shadows and eventually earn citizenship, fair and efficient border security, family unity, and new and orderly immigration pathways that support our economy and encourage legal immigration.

Moore is pastor and founder of the Walk Worthy Baptist Church in Austin.